• Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices
    • Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices

June 1, 2025

Franklin County Times
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries
  • Records
  • Subscribe
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Policies
  • Terms of use
  • Submit a news tip
  • Submit a photo
  • Birth Announcement
  • Birthday announcement
  • Engagement announcement
  • Wedding announcement
  • Submit a Classified Ad
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
    Franklin County Times
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
    Archives
     By  Staff Reports Published 
    9:39 am Thursday, April 25, 2002

    Broadcasting fees for NBA way too high

    By By Stan Torgerson
    April 25, 2002
    Whomever convinced the television networks to pay a gazillion bucks for the right to broadcast NBA basketball and major league baseball must be among the greatest salesmen of all time.
    The current rounds of the pro basketball playoffs are totally boring. Watching a bunch of overpaid, play only if they're in the mood athletes participate in what is supposed to pass for the highest level of the sport is something the average sports fan can, and does, do without and the ratings show it.
    When it gets down to the two finalists the audience will likely increase somewhat but never to a size that will justify the fees being paid for the "privilege" of broadcasting the games.
    As for major league baseball, game in and game out it it moves so slowly that the noise in the average den is the sound of snoring, not cheering. Yes, it could be fun to watch Barry Bonds come to the plate for his home run specialty, but half the time he walks and I'm not willing to sit through three hours of pitcher's mound conferences in order to watch three minutes of Bonds finally getting to swing at the ball.
    Sport fans tastes have changed. They have come to like, and expect, action, continual action which is why the NCAA Basketball Tournament is a much better show than the NBA and why pro and college football have long since replaced baseball as the American Pastime.
    It's also why NASCAR has found an audience while baseball is losing its. Paying ball players an average of about $2 million a season to play 162 games makes you wonder how the owners had the smarts required to make a fortune in order to buy one of these teams. Ticket prices are way up. Hot dog prices are way up. Cold beer prices are way up.
    The money has to be generated to pay these outrageous salaries and what better way than for the owners to stick their collective hands deeper in their customer's pockets. Sooner or later the goose that laid the golden eggs baseball players take home twice a month is going to die off or, at the least, get very sickwhether the union and the owners believe that or not…..
    On the subject of other village idiots, did you notice the prices that were posted this week for the Mike Tyson-Lennox Lewis alleged world heavyweight championship fight in Memphis June 8.
    If you missed it, the sliding scale per ticket is $2,400, $1,400, $900, $500, and $250. The promoters say it could be the most lucrative bouts in the history of the sport with a gross in excess of $100 million. Each fighter is expected to take home $20 million.
    Since the casinos in Tunica are nearby, each fighter will headquarter there. No one knows what the take will be at the tables but it will be enough to make the casinos very happy indeed. The motel owners, the restaurant proprietors and the night club operators in the area will be as well.
    It makes you wonder what the cable TV companies will charge for the closed circuit broadcast. Does $50 sound about right? If they get $35 for a run-of-the-mill fight card why not $50 for the "Fight of the Century?" Why not more? And if the fight ends in round one and you've gotten only two minutes of entertainment for your money, simply kiss the television screen and tell yourself you've been had again. Isn't a kiss mandatory after something like that is done to you?….
    Nolan Richardson has made one of the most ungraceful exits in sports. When he was fired as the Arkansas basketball coach it was amazing how much sympathy there was for a man who was paid $3 million to take a walk. Thousands of people bought his "Yes, I said I hoped they would buy me out but I really didn't mean it." statement.
    How much sympathy do you think there is now after his recent outburst?
    And when interviewer Bryant Gumbel asked Richardson if he thought Broyles was a racist, the former coach responded, "Somewhat, yes."
    If he really wants to continue coaching, and he says he does, there is very little market for loose cannons in the college basketball business. Schools prize loyalty second only to a winning record. Grab your $3 million and take up fishing, Mr. Richardson. You've got to do something to stay busy from this point on….
    In this man's opinion, the New Orleans Saints had a heck of a draft. They got the people they wanted in the early rounds and lucked into some diamonds in the rough in the later ones. How the newcomers will blend with the free agent signees and the holdover players remains to be seen but no one can say the Saints stood still.
    My sentimental favorite in the draft was Will Overstreet, the former Jackson prep star who played at Tennessee. He was drafted in the third round by Atlanta and time will prove he was a real steal. No one works harder or smarter than Overstreet. Don't tell me he's smaller than he should be or slower than the scouts like. This kid's heart is the biggest part of his body and he will be a star.
    At least that's one man's opinion.

    Also on Franklin County Times
    Russellville Class of 2025
    Galleries
    Russellville Class of 2025
    May 29, 2025
    {"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Tharptown High Class of 2025
    Galleries
    Tharptown High Class of 2025
    May 29, 2025
    {"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Vina High Class of 2025
    Galleries
    Vina High Class of 2025
    May 29, 2025
    {"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Belgreen Class of 2025
    Galleries
    Belgreen Class of 2025
    May 29, 2025
    {"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Phil Campbell Class of 2025
    Galleries
    Phil Campbell Class of 2025
    May 29, 2025
    {"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Red Bay Class of 2025
    Galleries
    Red Bay Class of 2025
    May 29, 2025
    {"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    West Elementary gets new assistant principal, adds math coach
    Main, News, Russellville, ...
    West Elementary gets new assistant principal, adds math coach
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    May 28, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE Gayla Mills has been named the new assistant principal for West Elementary School. She has been employed at West Elementary for 29 years ...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Delta Kappa Gamma welcomes new members
    Columnists, Opinion
    HERE AND NOW
    Delta Kappa Gamma welcomes new members
    May 28, 2025
    The Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Upsilon Chapter recently held a banquet at North Highlands Church of Christ. Hostesses were Emily Rush, Cheri McCain, Leah...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    ❮❯

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Latest Local News
    West Elementary gets new assistant principal, adds math coach
    West Elementary gets new assistant principal, adds math coach
    May 28, 2025
    There’s still time to get your STAR ID
    May 28, 2025
    Grand jury charges 5 with drug trafficking
    May 28, 2025
    Father-son honored for heroic fire rescue
    Father-son honored for heroic fire rescue
    May 28, 2025
    Vina School Class of 2025
    Vina School Class of 2025
    May 28, 2025

    More Local News

    Latest Stories
    4 honored duringRHS Performing Arts Signing Day
    4 honored duringRHS Performing Arts Signing Day
    May 28, 2025
    Obituaries
    May 28, 2025
    Congratulations, Class of 2025,now go forth and conquer
    May 28, 2025
    Birthdays
    May 28, 2025
    There’s still time to get your STAR ID
    May 28, 2025
    Latest Sports
    4 honored duringRHS Performing Arts Signing Day
    4 honored duringRHS Performing Arts Signing Day
    May 28, 2025
    Longtime Russellville coach Tim Townley retires
    Longtime Russellville coach Tim Townley retires
    May 28, 2025
    Belgreen hopes state playoff run ‘builds confidence’ for future
    Belgreen hopes state playoff run ‘builds confidence’ for future
    May 21, 2025
    Bulldogs’ inspired run comes to end against Pisgah
    Bulldogs’ inspired run comes to end against Pisgah
    May 21, 2025
    RHS tennis player selected for All Star match
    RHS tennis player selected for All Star match
    May 21, 2025

    More Sports Stories

    x

    Sections

    • Home
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyles
    • Obits
    • Special Sections
    • Sponsored Content
      • Home
      • News
      • Sports
      • Opinion
      • Lifestyles
      • Obits
      • Special Sections
      • Sponsored Content

    Services

    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise With Us
    • Policies
    • Terms of use
    • Submit a news tip
    • Submit a photo
    • Birth announcement
    • Birthday announcement
    • Engagement announcement
    • Wedding announcement
    • Submit a Classified Ad
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise With Us
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter

    Follow Us

    Copyright

    © 2025, Franklin County Times